Summary
Many people use affirmations to try and change their behaviour, but simple positive statements often fail because the brain immediately produces counter arguments. A more effective approach is to use language that reflects your current reality, while also uncovering the beliefs that may be holding you back. This article explores how language can reveal hidden beliefs and become a practical tool for behaviour change.
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This weekend and last I have read some of my poetry in open mic poetry events here in London. I like poetry because there is meaning beyond the words, emotion underneath what is written. While this is just a fun hobby for me, words and language play an important role when it comes to health & fitness.
Why Do Traditional Affirmations Often Fail?
Your language offers an insight into your current beliefs, thoughts and thinking patterns. As a trainer I do not just listen to the words clients use, I pair that to tone, body language and the energy behind them. I also do not latch onto what they say as gospel, I feel words are the way in which we think, so what you first say may not actually reflect what you mean. We can use specific language to provide a stimulus to allow your brain to consider a new point of view, or contemplate if there is a solution to a current problem. This is important as repeating an old unhelpful mantra can keep you stuck.
Key takeaway: If your brain immediately argues against an affirmation, repeating it may reinforce the very belief you are trying to change.
What Is A Tail-Ender?
Traditional affirmations have you saying a simple phrase in the hope it will create a change in who you are. Statements such as “I never eat junk food, I feel confident in the gym”, do not work because they do not allow for the hidden tail-ender your brain produces, e.g. “I never eat junk food” (brain also says except yesterday, and wouldn’t it be nice to have some now). So repeating this is just reinforcing a bad pattern.
Key takeaway: Most people have automatic thoughts that follow their spoken words. These hidden responses often reveal what they truly believe.
How Can You Use Language More Effectively?
For me, the good use of language in health & fitness is using words to bring our beliefs to the surface. For this to happen, you have to use language that is true and fits who you are in the moment. For example:
I never eat junk food (tailender: Yes you do, and I bet you will tonight)
is not as good as
Today I choose to not eat junk food
or
Today I choose to enjoy making good food choices
Key takeaway: Effective statements should feel believable and achievable in the present moment.
What are Liberations?
These affirmations are even more powerful if you pair them with what I call liberations, which is listing all the reasons something could not happen, so that they are out in the real world, a problem shared is a problem halved (even if just with yourself).
I have to eat junk food because _____ (list every reason)
I could never be someone who makes good food choices because ____ (list every reason)
Key takeaway: Listing the reasons something feels impossible often reveals the real obstacles standing in your way.
How Do Affirmations And Liberations Work Together?
When you put this together, you can find a statement that resonates with you, this will vary compared to another person. It could be something like :
Today I choose to act like someone who enjoys choosing good food
Today I will act like someone who easily can say no to junk food
I find ways to enjoy moving & exercise
These statements are not life commitments, rather an invitation to how you could act for one day only. If you have also identified all the reasons these could not be true you will have opened a possible avenue for change.
Key takeaway: Combining affirmations with liberations allows you to identify limiting beliefs while also exploring new ways of acting.
What Does This Mean For You?
Take some time to consider the language you use around exercise, bad eating, making better food choices and the influence of other people & places. This will give you insights into how you could make changes going forwards.
My Couch to Cloud 9 programme is 6 months old and still free to follow, it works by a short daily video (2-7 minutes). The days rotate between the affirmations & liberations discussed above, fitness insights and then simple behaviour tasks to create new habits. You can sign up here>>>
Summary
- Language influences how you think about yourself.
- Traditional affirmations often fail because the brain creates counter arguments.
- Hidden thoughts can reveal deeper beliefs.
- Effective affirmations should feel true and achievable.
- Liberations help uncover barriers to change.
- Behaviour change becomes easier when language reflects reality rather than fantasy.
Photo – Me at three different poetry events this year, most of my poetry is about the struggles of modern life, the things we think yet rarely say outloud –
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